Our View: Thumbs up/down for week of June 24

Monday

Jul 2, 2018 at 6:00 AM

Thumbs up to The Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative’s Board of Directors for unanimously approving the adoption of an ethics policy. CMEEC’s employees, independent contractors and board must receive training on compliance with the ethics policy within 90 days. The policy outlines the proper use of company property, finances and use of funds, adherence to laws and regulations and communications with the press and the public. The policy also states CMEEC representatives shall not solicit, accept, receive or provide any gifts valued at more than $100. The police reads: "A gift must not be extravagant or jeopardize CMEEC’s image or reputation." The cooperative was tasked with reworking their ethics policy after The Bulletin first reported CMEEC and city officials had partaken in a $340,000 lavish trip to the Kentucky Derby in 2016. In all, four trips had been taken to the Derby over the years. The ethics policy outlines actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest and mandates that employees, directors and volunteers discuss or report any conflicts or ethics violations to their supervisor, a CMEEC leader or CMEEC general counsel. The general counsel will subsequently "conduct a prompt and thorough investigation and issue a written report summarizing the findings and what, if any, action will be taken," the policy states. We, along with Groton resident Michael Boucher, do have concerns with CMEEC policing its own ethics policy. CMEEC should contract with a third party to evaluate possible violations.

Thumbs up to the fact that Killingly will finally be able to renovate a locally-based domestic violence shelter. Officials were approved to administrate a $700,000 state grant for the renovation of the 12-bed shelter – the project plans call for replacing windows, doors and insulation and upgrading the house’s plumbing and electrical systems. Code compliance and modifications to improve handicap access will also be completed so the shelter becomes a more livable and comfortable place. The shelter accepts individuals and their children from across the state who stay anywhere from a few days to several months. The money is part of a $10.5 million Small Cities Grant package awarded to 16 Connecticut towns. The Killingly Town Council in March approved submission of the grant application after a similar request was rejected by the state last year.

Thumbs up to Bozrah’s Board of Selectmen who will go over voter comments after residents shot down the 2018-19 budget proposal by 37 votes. The $9.6 million budget failed after a successful petition drive by Fred Potter, a former Bozrah Volunteer Fire Company chief and a member of the state EMS Advisory Board, in opposition to a $122,000 proposal to hire between 10 and 12 paid, per-diem firefighters for nine-hour shifts Monday through Friday at the BVFC, and provide those new employees with customized turnout gear. The initiative aims to reduce the number of times the fire company relies on mutual aid to assist in responding to fire and medical emergencies. But Potter believes the proposal could hurt the BVFC, leading to increasing costs and fewer volunteers coming forward to staff the company. Potter and other residents want an outside ambulance company in addition to BVFC during the needed hours at no cost. First Selectman Glenn Pianka said officials will go over voter comments written in on the ballot to determine the town’s next move. We’re hoping town officials take the residents’ concerns seriously to come up with a solution that makes sense.